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[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Mary Frances Funk Papers, circa 1954, SC 0319, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
The collection was donated to Special Collections in August 2021 by Richard Marcus, Mary Frances Funk's nephew.
An envelope containing loose photographs was included in the photograph album when it was donated to Special Collections. The photographs were placed in an acid-free paper enclosure and placed back in the photograph album.
Mary Frances "Fran" Funk (1932-2020) was born in Berryville, Virginia to Mary Sue Deal Funk and Charles Richard Funk. Funk matriculated at Madison College in the fall of 1950 and majored in elementary education. She graduated in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in education. While a student at Madison College, Funk was a member of Alpha Sigma Tau, Association for Childhood Education, and Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). In 1968, she received a master's degree in education from the University of Maryland. Funk taught elementary school for forty years in Virginia and Maryland before retiring in 1995.
The Mary Frances Funk Papers, circa 1954, comprise one photograph album, loose photographs, and ephemera documenting Funk's time as a student at Madison College.
The photographs feature campus scenes, buildings and grounds, the kissing rock, students in their caps and gowns, Funk and her fellow classmates, May Day celebrations, dormitory interiors, and general student life. The bulk of the pages are blank without any photographs. None of the photographs are captioned or include descriptions. The front cover of the photograph album is embossed with the Madison College seal.
Two programs document the 1954 commencement exercises. A satirical news release, written by fellow members of the class of 1954, provides ficticious updates on members of the graduating class upon the celebration of their future ten-year reunion.
The collection is arranged in the order in which it was received. The printed materials are foldered separately from the photograph album and loose photographs.
Mary Sue Deal's 1924 State Teachers College diploma, which was part of the same donation, was separated from this collection and incorporated into UA 0036. Deal was Mary Frances Funk's mother. Funk's 1954 yearbook, embossed with her name, was added to Special Collections's yearbook holdings.